Robert Durst is dead. He died in 2022, shackled to a hospital bed, shortly after finally being convicted for the murder of Susan Berman. You'd think that would be the end of the story, right? But Andrew Jarecki and the team at HBO realized that the rabbit hole didn’t just stop with a confession caught on a hot mic in a bathroom. The Jinx Season 2 isn't just a sequel; it is a autopsy of a legal system and a social circle that allowed a killer to walk free for decades.
When The Jinx: The Life and Deaths of Robert Durst first aired in 2015, it changed everything. It wasn’t just a documentary. It was a catalyst. We all remember that chilling mutter: "Killed them all, of course." But the second season, which arrived nearly a decade later, pivots away from the "did he do it?" mystery. We already know he did it. Now, we're looking at the people who helped him stay out of jail while he was doing it.
Honestly, it’s frustrating. Watching the second season feels like peering into a dark room where everyone is pretending they don't see the elephant. The show painstakingly reconstructs the 2021 trial in Los Angeles, but it weaves in new, never-before-seen footage and phone calls Durst made from prison.
Why the wait for more Durst footage was worth it
The gap between seasons wasn't just about production cycles. Jarecki was basically waiting for the legal dust to settle. During the filming of the first season, they found that "cadaver" note. You know the one. The block lettering that matched Durst’s handwriting perfectly. That piece of evidence was the smoking gun in the Susan Berman case.
But in The Jinx Season 2, the focus shifts to the "supporting cast." These are the friends, the lawyers, and the associates who stood by Durst. Some of them seem genuinely deluded. Others look like they were just along for the ride because Bobby had a lot of money. It’s a weirdly intimate look at how wealth can buy a bizarre kind of loyalty, even when there's a trail of bodies.
The new season uses prison phone calls to show a side of Durst that is even more manipulative than what we saw in 2015. He’s not a frail old man in these clips. He’s a chess player. He’s complaining about the food, sure, but he’s also directing his defense and trying to maintain control over his narrative. It’s unsettling.
The Susan Berman Trial: A Masterclass in Tension
Most of the second installment centers on the Los Angeles trial. This wasn't just about Susan Berman anymore. Because of California's legal rules, the prosecution was able to bring in evidence regarding the disappearance of Durst's first wife, Kathleen McCormack, and the death of Morris Black in Galveston.
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John Lewin, the prosecutor, is a fascinating character here. He’s aggressive. He’s dogged. He spent years obsessing over Durst. Watching the courtroom footage, you see a clash of titans. On one side, a prosecutor who won’t let go. On the other, a defense team that previously got Durst acquitted for a murder he admitted to committing (self-defense, they claimed, despite the dismemberment).
The stakes in The Jinx Season 2 feel different. It’s less about the shock of the crime and more about the grind of justice. We see witnesses who are terrified. We see others who are clearly lying through their teeth. It paints a picture of a man who didn't just commit crimes; he corrupted the very environment around him.
The Friends Who Stayed
One of the most jarring parts of the new season is seeing his "inner circle." Nick Chavin, a long-time friend, becomes a pivotal figure. His testimony is heartbreaking and surreal. He describes a conversation where Durst basically admitted to killing Susan because "it was her or me."
Why did it take so long for these people to speak up?
Money? Fear? A strange sense of New York high-society tribalism? Probably a mix of all three. The documentary doesn't give them an easy out. It lingers on their faces as they realize their "quirky" billionaire friend was actually a serial predator. It’s uncomfortable television, but it’s necessary for understanding how someone like Robert Durst exists.
Kathleen McCormack and the lingering questions
Even though Durst was convicted for Berman's murder, the shadow of Kathleen McCormack hangs over everything. She disappeared in 1982. Her body has never been found. Season 2 dives into the renewed efforts by the McCormack family to find some semblance of peace.
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They’ve been fighting for over forty years. Think about that.
The documentary highlights the failures of the original 1982 investigation. It shows how the Durst name carried enough weight to deflect suspicion in the early days. It’s a stark reminder that the "True Crime" we consume as entertainment is, for many people, a lifelong sentence of grief and unanswered questions.
The production style changed—sorta
Jarecki’s style is still there. The dramatic reenactments, the haunting score, the slow-motion shots of mundane objects. But there’s a grit to The Jinx Season 2 that wasn't as prevalent before. It feels less like a polished thriller and more like a documentary of a circus. The circus is the American legal system.
The editing is punchy. One minute you’re in a sterile courtroom, the next you’re listening to a scratchy recording of Durst talking about his breakfast. The contrast is jarring. It keeps you off balance, which is exactly how Durst operated his entire life.
The legacy of the hot mic moment
We have to talk about that "confession" again. In the new season, we get more context on what happened immediately after Durst walked out of that bathroom. We see the filmmakers realizing what they had. It wasn't just a lucky break; it was the result of Durst's own arrogance. He thought he was untouchable. He thought the mic was off because he had spent a lifetime getting away with things.
The second season reinforces that Durst was his own worst enemy. He couldn't stop talking. He wanted the attention. He wanted Jarecki to make a movie about him. In the end, his ego provided the evidence that his wealth couldn't suppress.
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What we learned from the final episodes
The conclusion of the series doesn't feel like a celebration. It’s somber. Durst died before he could be tried for Kathleen’s murder. There’s a sense of "too little, too late."
However, the value of The Jinx Season 2 lies in its documentation of the truth. It closes the book on the enablers. It shows that while justice can be delayed by millions of dollars and high-powered lawyers, it can’t always be avoided entirely. The footage of the verdict being read is powerful, not because of the drama, but because of the visible relief on the faces of the victims' families.
Practical insights for True Crime fans
If you're looking to get the most out of this saga, don't just stop at the show. There are layers here that even 12 episodes of television can't fully cover.
- Watch the 2010 film All Good Things: This was Andrew Jarecki’s fictionalized version of the Durst story starring Ryan Gosling. It’s actually what prompted Durst to reach out to Jarecki in the first place. Watching it gives you a sense of why Durst felt "understood" by the filmmaker.
- Follow the McCormack family’s legal filings: Even after Robert’s death, the legal battles regarding his estate and the investigation into Kathleen’s disappearance continue. They are still seeking to hold the estate accountable.
- Compare the Galveston trial to the LA trial: If you want a real education in how legal strategy works, look up the transcripts of the 2003 trial in Texas. Seeing how he was found not guilty then, compared to how the prosecution handled him in 2021, is a masterclass in litigation.
The Jinx Season 2 serves as a final, definitive account of one of the most bizarre criminal cases in American history. It proves that the "first" ending isn't always the whole story. Sometimes, the most interesting part is what happens after the handcuffs go on.
Next Steps for the Viewer
To fully grasp the scope of the Durst investigation, start by re-watching the final two episodes of Season 1 to refresh your memory on the specific evidence regarding the "cadaver" note. Once you've finished Season 2, look for the unedited transcripts of the prison calls released by the Los Angeles District Attorney’s office. These documents provide even more granular detail into Durst's mindset during the trial that didn't make the final edit. Finally, keep an eye on New York state legal updates, as the investigation into the McCormack case remains technically active in certain jurisdictions, despite the primary suspect's death.